Updating a topology of a distribution network by successive reallocation of the meters

1. A computer implemented method for automatic correction of a topology of an electrical distribution network defined by respective allocations of meters to transformers, the method comprising the steps of: (i) for each transformer of the topology, dividing up the meters allocated to the transformer into first and second batches according to a dividing criteria and a degree of similarity of the records of voltages measured by the meters with respect to an average voltage estimated with the records of voltages measured by the meters allocated to the transformer so that the first batch comprises the meters whose degree of similarity is higher than the meters of the second batch; (ii) initially for each transformer of the topology then subsequently for each transformer whose allocation of meters has changed, calculating a corrected average voltage with the records of voltages measured by the meters only in the first batch of the transformer; (iii) calculating a similarity of the records of voltages measured by the meters in the second batches of the transformers with the corrected average voltages of the transformers calculated in (ii); (iv) for each transformer of the topology, determining which are, in the second batch, the meters attributable to another transformer according to the similarities calculated in (iii); (v) reallocating at least one of the meters determined in (iv); and (vi) as long as a meter has been reallocated in (v), repeating steps (ii) to (v), the topology being corrected when there remain no more meters attributable to other transformers in the second batches.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step, between steps (iv) and (v), of prioritizing at least one meter to be reallocated according to a decreasing order of the similarities calculated in (iii).

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the similarity calculated in (iii) is determined as a function of: a multidimensional analysis of the records of voltages measured, the similarity being quantified according to distances between voltages of time-series of the records with respect to the average voltages of the transformers represented in a multidimensional space; a correlation analysis between the time-series of the records; or results of a function combining results of the multidimensional and correlation analyses.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the similarity calculated in (iii) is further determined as a function of a contribution of time-series of records of consumptions measured by the meters.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein a switching of the records of voltages between the multidimensional analysis and the correlation analysis is carried out as a function of consumption levels determined from corresponding time-series of records of consumptions measured by the meters.

6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the function combining the results comprises a remapping of a distance towards a correlation according to the equation: γ a , b d ≡ 1 - d a , b 2 2 ·  V a  ·  V b  where V a and V b are vectors corresponding to series of records of voltages measured by a meter under validation in the multidimensional space, d a,b is a distance between ends of the vectors in the multidimensional space, and ∥ . . . ∥ is a norm operator.

7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the similarity calculated in (iii) for a meter under validation further comprises: an estimation of a connection resistance of the meter under validation from the records of voltages measured by the meter under validation, an average voltage estimated with the records of voltages of all the meters connected to the transformer targeted by the calculation of similarity, and values representative of a load at the meter under validation according to records of consumptions measured by the meter under validation; and a correction of the voltage measured by the meter under validation as a function of the connection resistance estimated and the records of consumptions measured by the meter under validation.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the connection resistance of the meter under validation is estimated as a function of variations of amplitudes between the records.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a potential electrical non-compliance is detected when the connection resistance of the meter under validation has a value outside a predefined valid range.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before step (i), the step of selecting data segments defining time-stamped ranges of the records to which the calculations in steps (i) to (iii) are applied.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of validating the data in the segments by detecting blackouts and anomalies in the data and by rejecting the corresponding time-stamped records.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: communicating with a topological database of an electrical network to obtain data indicative of the topology of the electrical distribution network and updating the data as a function of the reallocations of the meters in (v); and communicating with a database storing measurements provided by the meters to obtain the records of voltages measured by the meters.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the updated data comprise a history of the reallocations of the meters to the transformers in order to keep track of an evolution of the topology and that a configuration of the topology at a given time be determinable.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dividing criteria is a ratio of meters to be distributed between the first and second batches or a maximum number of meters in the second batch.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the similarities calculated in (iii) are classified and analyzed with respect to preestablished conditions of detection of outliers indicative of potential electrical non-compliances.

17. A computer system for automatic correction of a topology of an electrical distribution network defined by respective allocations of meters to transformers, the computer system comprising at least one storage device for a database of topological data representing the topology of the electrical distribution network, at least one storage device for records of voltages measured by the meters, and a processing unit having an interface for communicating with the storage devices, at least one processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor and configuring the processing unit to perform the steps of: (i) for each transformer of the topology, dividing up the meters allocated to the transformer into first and second batches according to a dividing criteria and a degree of similarity of the records of voltages measured by the meters with respect to an average voltage estimated with the records of voltages measured by the meters allocated to the transformer so that the first batch comprises the meters whose degree of similarity is higher than the meters of the second batch; (ii) initially for each transformer of the topology then subsequently for each transformer whose allocation of meters has changed, calculating a corrected average voltage with the records of voltages measured by the meters only in the first batch of the transformer; (iii) calculating a similarity of the records of voltages measured by the meters in the second batches of the transformers with the corrected average voltages of the transformers calculated in (ii); (iv) for each transformer of the topology, determining which are, in the second batch, the meters attributable to another transformer according to the similarities calculated in (iii); (v) reallocating at least one of the meters determined in (iv); and (vi) as long as a meter has been reallocated in (v), repeating steps (ii) to (v), the topology being corrected when there remain no more meters attributable to other transformers in the second batches.